Wesley Minnie – Goudveld captain

Player Profile

On Saturday Goudveld play arch rivals in an FNB Classic Clash, the great Welkom derby which attracts some 10 000 spectators – ardent spectators.

Goudveld hooker and captain Wesley Minnie considers himself a John Smit clone. As Welkom comes to a standstill on Saturday for the local derby he will need all the experience and determination of his idol if he is to lead Goudveld to victory.

Wesley Minnie was born on Carltonville on 1 February 1988. His family moved to Welkom when he was in Grade 2 and he attended junior school at Welkom Volkskool. Like his father, who played for Western Transvaal in his day, Wesley played scrumhalf in junior school. Currently in Grade 12 he is playing in his third year in the 1st XV and is a school prefect.

Wesley played Under-13 Craven Week for the Griffons and represented their Under-16 team at the Bokkie Week. He did not make the Griffons Craven Week team this year though but has still been offered a junior Griffons contract for next year. He intends studying through UNISA at the same time.

Wesley looks like John Smit and plays a similar type of game. A good scrummager, Wesley is a powerful ball-carrier and an aggressive defender. He admires Smit’s on-field leadership qualities, his ability to handle the players and the way he keeps them together.

Goudveld have had a difficult season and their best result to date is a draw against Witteberg of Bethlehem. They have worked really hard for this game though and with their strong pack of forwards Wesley feels they are capable of turning around the result of last year when they were badly beaten. They will look to mix up their game plan in this the biggest game of the season for Wesley and his team.

Wesley can barely wait for Saturday to arrive and he confidently predicts a totally different game to last year.